Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The new year is coming. Right now, most of the people I follow are slowing down, taking time to have fun. Especially since the publishing world seems to grind to a near stand still at this time of year. I say near because they do still push new releases and stuff.

So, what do you do for the New Year? Party wise and goal wise. The last few years, I've made it a point to get old projects finished. And I've succeeded :) I'm thinking, that I will have to do so again. I've found more projects and started others. Some I can't finish until I replace my glasses.

However, I'm going to add a new one. I'm going to have a book scheduled for publication. There. I've stated my goals. Now, if only I could see to edit...

Sunday, December 26, 2010

So, as many know, my computer had a meltdown a short time ago. Well, when trying to get on again tonight, I was "blue screened" again. That was what happened last time. So, if you don't hear from me for a while, that may be the problem.

I went to Best Buy to check on my warranty. I have a 3 year warranty that covers just about anything to do with my hard drive. I'm supposed to take it in so they can check... UGH

But if it's not the hard drive, it isn't covered. PSBBBSBBSBS is what I say to that!!! Since it won't load the drivers, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's the hard drive.

Christmas was pretty good here. My 9 you says it was best Christmas presents EVER. He also said I shouldn't have gotten them because the kids had been bad all year. He was REALLY GOOD helping clean house for today's company lol

Hope your holidays went well. I hooked up with old friend and his wife and will probably be stamping with her later. Showed her a trick, but not sure if I did it right cuz of my glasses situation...

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Thanks to everyone who showed their concern and niceness regarding my daughter's well being :) Some on twitter and some here (and a couple both ways!) And to those who helped me through a rough patch yesterday. Thanks for being the bestest. Now, back to business, so to speak.

So, I'm editing, very, very, very, very, slowly. I mean, sllllllooooooooowwwwww. but it is good. Here's a quick excerpt from my paranormal, the Damian series that I am currently calling Ghost of Kristen's Past.

Before she responded, the detective's eyes glowed strangely and he turned toward the door. "Kenny is here."

Kristen could not remember the last time she had been in such a nervous state. Her mind fumbled for coherence and her body was in fight or flight mode. She mutely turned back to the door and opened it.

She was so not surprised to see Kenny coming up the walk. She let Kenny in and turned back to Detective Damian.

Kenny strode purposefully into the living room. "I'm here, obviously. What did you want?" he said abruptly as soon as he saw the detective.

"I need you to tell me everything you know. Half of Hell is after you and the other half will be once they find out that the two of you are Soulmates."

You like? That's the end of a chapter :D I really like that last line. One of my favorites. I know a book is good when I have favorites...

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Now, usually, I use that to mean I only fell off the ends of the earth, or had a really hard time I've recently come back from.

Nope, not this time. This time, it's literal. My daughter is alive. Why is that a big deal? Here's the story...

Out of the blue, I get a real live phone call from my text loving, zillion words a second, daughter. I already know something is up. So, then, in that voice that means she knows I'm not going to like what she says, she says, "How are you mom? How's everyone?"

If you're a parent, or close to a child, that voice combined with that non-sequitor is bad. Very bad. But, I play along. Sort of.

"We're all fine. What's up?" I ask her. Then she starts with the hemming and hawing. "I'm fine, we're fine, um, yes, but I'm fine."

Now my mother's heart is going OH SH**. I'm trying to let her tell me her way, but it is hard.

"When we left the roads were fine," she finally gets out. Silence on my end. I knew it wasn't good.

"We were going to his (bf) mom's house for holiday things, you know. And, well, um..." I decide to help her when she stalls again.

"Where does his mom live again?"

"Spokane. So we, like, um,"

Okay, I have to tell you, she uses um to usually mean I'm being an idiot, or to stall giving me really bad news. Notice the ums? And I'm editing for clarity..."We, um, the roads looked fine. But, um, we hit black ice. We went off the left side into the ditch. And um,"

Now, I'm ready to burst in with questions, but she had to go add the 'and, um' to her story. I'm positively speechless. There's more?

"See, Justin (bf name) told me to get out of the car. I know the cops usually say to stay in your car, but I got out." her words are rushing now. And she's still using this tone of voice that I haven't heard from her in years.

"And all of the sudden a truck is heading towards us. It smashed into the passenger side of the car, right where I was sitting!"

OMG let me tell you, my heart is no longer beating a staccato, it is frozen in my throat.

"You're lucky you weren't hit anyway," I finally choke out.

"We started running as fast as we could in the snow. So, yeah. I've had my holiday excitement for the year."

"I guess so! I'm glad you're okay. Where are you?"

"Spokane, we were just past..." names an exit close to Spokane.

"I'm glad you're okay," I say.

And as she starts to speak, her phone dies.

My daughter, she should go to law school. She loves to argue semantics. I don't know how much arguing she actually did with him. But the point is, she got out first. Probably saved her life. For sure saved her body from grievous injury.

Whatever happens from this point on, she's had her Christmas Miracle.

I was so relieved that she was okay that I spent the night editing little bits, and playing twitter big bits :D I'm back to editing, and already tired :( Need sleep, and caffeine. But I'm happy with how the editing is going. Still have over 100 pages to go on current page count. Probably be closer to another 150 before I'm finished. Sigh.

Funny thing is, before I broke my glasses, I liked editing. Now it's harder than it used to be. :) Well, back to the editing process and trying to be a good mom and alpha female...

Friday, December 17, 2010

So, how many of you eavesdrop? Come on, be honest. Your mom isn't looking. Yep, if you're a writer, I can almost gaurantee you eavesdrop, even when you don't mean to. Take me the other day.

Finally, I get out. The aforementioned Christmas bonus. Yeah, that day. I'm determined to enjoy my time out with my husband. First derailment? Migraine. okay, i have meds. Oops. left them in car. We are at Costco. I sit down at Costco's little white tables and hold my head in my hands while hubby checks out with our two items and goes to the car for me.

I am trying not to listen, honestly. It makes my head hurt to listen. But, I hear them. Everywhere. Women who are lovers that are pretending to just be friends. Old men married to their wives forever and showing that love in every look, touch, and word. Young kids ramped up about Christmas. So much there.

My husband brings in the meds that I have (not prescription. Just some "headache medicine" that I found with aspirin, tylenol, and caffeine. Lots of caffeine. my migraines are not hurt by caffeine. Thank. You. God. I've heard rumors...) and brought me food to go with it.

I finally start feeling better. and then the caffeine kicks in. Hubby leaves to get us pop or something and I tune in (again, NOT ON PURPOSE, I SWEAR) to the couple next to us. She is probably 55ish, died (pun intended) auburn hair (I WISH I could dye my hair that color though!) with a blue tooth sticking out her ear.

She is animatedly telling her older husband about her trip through the snack bar.

Ginger: There was one reeeeaaalllly long line but they had more than one cashier open.Gingerman: Really. His tone of voice said fascinating. He is a good man.Ginger: No one is moving to the open cashier. The cashier person is standing there twiddling her thumbs. Yet, they all stayed in the long line.Gingerman: Huh. More of a grunt while eating.Ginger: So I move and go to the front of the line.Nosy Writer: Laughing in delight. Good for you!Ginger: Looks over to see if nosy parker was talking to you. Yep, she was. Oh.Nosy Writer: Seriously. Good for you. If people are going to give you dirty looks because they were too stupid to do it, then you derserve a thumbs up.Gingerman: Blinks. Stares at this woman who has now said more words to your wife than you have in three days.Ginger: Beams, but looks uncertain of the person next to them. Thank you.Nosy Writer: I'm sorry. I'm a writer. I'm terrible about eavesdropping even when I'm trying not to. Winning smile. Just had to say that.Ginger and Gingerman: Nod appreciatively. Thanks. Smiles.Seriously, as soon as they heard I was a writer, I was no longer the crazy person interrupting their talk. I was somebody. A somebody that it was okay to listen and give approval. LOL

Have you ever done that? Not give dirty looks. I won't ask you to fess up to that. Not here, anyway. You can do that to yourself and fix it later. I mean, have you ever heard something and felt the urge to cut in?

We all do it on twitter. Not only that, we retweet and invite the whole world to do it with us lol

I have had people give me dirty looks for being the smart one, going to the head of the line, rather than be cattle and wait in the line "everybody" is in.

This episode made me think of JK Rowling and Stephanie Meyers. Or is it Meyer. I have a book here somewhere I could look at, but that's not the point. How many times have I heard either one of them eschewed for something? Really, what did they do? Something different.

Whether or not you like sparkly vamp in the rainforest as a concept, a huge chunk of the world did. Whether or not you like the witch stuff about Harry Potter, a really huge chunk of the world did. (BTW I'm huge fan of one and not the other. *Shrugs* I couldn't tell you why. I suspect its the POV issue for me, however.)

I do not complain about other books getting popular. I wish I were that popular. I don't care if you personally appreciate the writing. Why be a schmuck to those that like it? You never know, it might be the same schmuck of people that likes your stuff. I mean, take me for example. I'm not a huge YA fan. Yet, I do like some things.

But I'm also the same person who loves hard hitting thrillers and romantic comedies. If I see you belittling an author (I do not mean disliking a book for personal tastes. I mean the rude s***) and I remember your name, I am not going to buy your book. I. will. not. buy. your. book. Period. Okay, rant over. For now.

Still, don't be like all those standing in line because that's where everyone else is. Follow your heart. Write what you love. Go to the head of the line when the opportunity knocks.

And for pete's sake, don't give others dirty looks for getting there first. Applaud them and follow suit. Be a leader. Be different. Be yourself.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Today, I went Christmas shopping. My husband got his Christmas Bonus in the shape of a gift card. I'm not going to say the amount he got, but it wasn't large. I was happy it was anything. This is first job either one of us has had that has given any bonus. So we went shopping.

I hate shopping. We ended up saying we will get x or x if there are still any. The next payday is the Friday before Christmas. We ended up getting a stool. (I am short!) garbage bags and a miter tool for making frames, etc.

My husband is making shelves so that I can get my canvases put up, so they will hopefully quit getting destroyed. Also, it will give me more organizational room in the craft/sewing/art room. Hopefully, when this round is done, I will quit losing large $$ amounts in things to mice (number 1 culprit) dogs, kids, and the cat. I will also hopefully quit losing large amounts of time to having to clean/organize the new mess! That is what I am hoping for. I need that time, either for writing or for relaxing. I am so far behind on cleaning and relaxing :)

Catching up, though, catching up. :)

Last night, while baby took nap, I was able to get at least 12 pages of post-beta reader edits done. In doing so, I ended up 200 words ahead! And that's with erasing some things. Like had. Too, too many hads... I love having a beta reader who can explain. It's like having a doctor who can explain. It's awesome. It is the first real progress I've made on my writing since the computer crashed, and let me tell you, IT. FELT. GOOD. :D so good. I love writing. It's in my blood. I think, being creative is in my blood. Anytime being creative is withheld from me, I feel imprisoned.

Now, I have the scent. I have some really good ideas and know where I'm needing to go. I can't wait for it to be finished. My wish now, that I had glasses...

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Well, it is a new day. Now, while reading the following, please keep in mind that my spirit is in a better frame of mind then yesterday. Also, writing does come in somewhere... *G*

My 2 yo fights sleep like some people fight each other in boxing rings. He will actually scratch/slap himself to wake himself up. Some nights are worst than others. Last night was a bad one.

Well, okay, I wanted to do some more baking. I had made chocolate cake and cupcakse and frosting earlier and wanted to make more frosting and cookies. One, small problem. A single solitary beater has gone missing between the kids lick the frosting off and the dishwasher stage.

I have looked everywhere. I'm afraid the 2 you may have gotten it and thrown it away. I'm afraid to look. But I ended up making frosting with my bread beater attachments. Worked okay. It was more work. No way am I going to be able to make any sort of whipped things like meringue etc.

Now, this morning, after being up until close on 6, I got up at 5 to 7 and woke up 6 and 9 yo and got them moving. Told them they had better make it to bus stop or else...

About 10 am I heard someone messing with our electronics and thought we were being ripped off (wouldn't be first time!) so I was startled awake. I turn over and jump up. One small, teensy, itty bitty problem? There was no more bed to turn over to. Yep. That's right. I fell off the bed. I hurt my whole left side, my back and neck.

Well, turns out to be my boys. I went out to the living room seeking blood. Well, turns out, my 9 yo turned wrong on his bad ankle (He hurts the same one over and over again. Yes, he is most definitely NOT adopted. #co-ruler of Klutzville here.), twisted it, fell, and 6 yo tripped on him and fell on the ankle. I.kid.you.not. All on their way out the door to bus.

I tell him find the brace and I turn around and go back to sleep. Around noon, I here my teen. I'm thinking, wow, I slept til 3? Sweet! Why don't I feel any better. Oh yeah. fell off bed. I get up check my thousand tweets on my phone and go. Um it's not three. I go out there and he's couging to beat the band again. We've got some sort of bronchitis going through the house and it can take months to go away. I may be stuck home schooling my kids for rest of year. Which really sucks as my teen only needs 5.5 credits to graduate!

When I started this, I still had not found the beater. My 6 yo finally understands WTH we are talking about, runs to his room, and comes back with it. LOL

Someone said I live on the edge of the Chaos Vortex. I'm starting to think my family is the epicenter and inner winds! We have our moments of ultimate togetherness then all hell breaks loose :D The calm and the winds, yep, that would be us. Although, maybe I should buy stock in Duct tape... and ace bandages!

So, after hearing this story, why would anyone in their right mind think that I could possibly be in better spirits then I was yesterday?

For one thing, I have an EXCELLENT Beta Reader, @Techsurgeons on twitter. Who gave me excellent advice. I feel freer now due to his advice. I am one of those people who read everything and try to do it by the book. One of those fallacies is not using contractions in good literature. I have spent so much time going through manuscripts and it has turned out to be good as I have occassionally been lazy and used it's inappropriately. I do know the grammar, just would type like people speak.

However, I went too far to the extreme. What has this baking time done for me? Even with all the setbacks? I can sit back and think of plots and my brain can work on it without the pressure of ME and all the damned rules floating around in my head. I know how to tell a good story. I have a natural instinct for plot and clues etc. It's all the stinking rules that trip me up.

So, yeah, despite all the stuff, things are starting to look up again. My beater is found, my tree has beautiful ornaments that my husband bought me as a gift to help me feel better from my loss. (that is a whole other story that would make the most hard hearted person cry, so I am not going to tell it until I have some objectivity back) My kids are enjoying the whole baking process, I made really, really good cake for first time in my life, and we are making gingerbread houses tonight.

And I'm going to sing happy things whenever I want to get down. Everyone laughs at my singing... Even the dog.

In the meantime, I'm going to plot away, enjoy my kids, and be thankful for friends and family that have all helped me get through this.

PS my online friends have been there. It is you I am thankful for, right now.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Recently, I have had a rash of bad juju regarding my files and things getting lost/stolen. So, I have endeavored to make sure I have back ups. Well, it was not enough. I had some sort of virus that would not let me access restore points or anti-virus.

I also found that my anti-virus was off. I don't know if that was me with a download that I forgot to turn back on, or if that was the virus. But any time I tried to access any of that, I was blue screened. It kept telling me to uninstall last thing I installed. I had not installed anything. I had TRIED to update my adobe last. But it had not started yet.

I spent HOURS yesterday, trying to make it recover somehow. It did not. Long and short of it is that I lost all my pictures and my research.

I had started moving files to dropbox so I have my 3 complete novels still saved. I also have some of my research in email boxes that I will have to track down now. (I send to my alternate email and myhusbands email, so between them, i hopefully have SOMETHING. I have a joint venture book published which I had on my computer. The sequel is gone. Unless I managed to send it a while back.

At one point, my back up files on this OS went blank. My whole back up drive just wiped out. I had already had plans for buying a seperateharddrive for back ups. My husband and I have even priced some. However, we have not had the money. This last check my husband only had five days of work because of the weather.

He was unable to get into work the day before Thanksgiving (turned out to be good thing since mypipes were frozen!) so he lost his two days of holiday pay as well. One twelve hour shift and two 8 hour paid days down the tubes. Sigh.

My dropbox used to have more on it, but I cleared it out to help my son back up his itunes before reinstalling. Something was not working right with quick time or something, so he gave up. I took out the music and started refilling my dropbox, starting with my MS.

Mostly, I'm bummed at loss of my pics. The ironic thing is that most of my pics that I don't yet have on disc/jump drive are on FB which was the culprit in the first place. One of my friends was hacked and her site used to send infected messages to the lot of us :(

I probably would have been fine, but like I said, my defenses were down. I am really bummed. This week, I've lost my pics, and discovered the loss of my and my children's childhood ornaments. Trying hard to not be a downer to everyone I talk to, but it gets harder with each thing that happens.

HOWEVER, I do have my completed manuscripts. With all the interest I have in my romance thrillers and paranormal romance, I think I'm going to relegate my sci-fi and fantasy series to smashwords for my small cult following. I will put them cheaply available like $1-2 dollars and will link the sites here for you.

I have to go back through and fix dialogue. I went and took out contractions, but on the reread, it does not sound good. I had this confirmed with a beta reader (without pointing it out), so I am going to fix it before I release it to the stratosphere :)I have my thriller out with an editor. Keep those fingers/toes/hair/eyes, whatever you have crossed for me:)

And keep the happy juju thoughts coming so I can go back to being my cheerful self! I really am an optimist at heart...

Friday, December 10, 2010

As I think I stated here before, I had a very hard time turning off the inner editor in this year's go around of NaNoWriMo. This story has been in the works for sometime. As I had already written more than NaNo's requirement and thrown it out, I suppose I already had my mush pile.

Realistically, I have a great story. I'm working on pulling all the POVs together. I have an umbrella story (think Acheron from Sherilynn Kenyon) and the lovers story, and the demons in the back ground. There will be one big bad ass demon that is there for a few novels before I do something about her. Yes, the biggest bad ass demon is a female.

I believe women are as capable of men at things and vice-versa. I know there is some physical differences, but as I have a 5'8", or maybe she is up to 5'9" now, daughter as sturdy and strong as you could ask for, I do not see those limitations as much as others. Of course, I'm only 5'3", but I'm tough as nails. Or, I used to be before I got old :P

I was a firefighter, EMT, Search and Rescue Worker. My husband, who was also a firefighter, EMT (it's how we met!) is also a great sewer and cook. I never like to limit my characters.

How about you? Do you find yourself, in your writing or real life, limiting people unconsciously because of their sex? Take a close look, and let's be honest, this if for posterity's sake, how does it feel? Okay, that went off on a Princess Bride tangent :D What I was starting to say before my brain so pleasantly interrupted, is take a close look at your MS and your life views. How are you limiting yourself or the people around you? Or are you? You may be surprised at your answers.

For me, I forget to toughen my men up in my WIP. I forget some of the things that need to be said "out loud" so to speak. In my books, it is assumed (by me, the author) that men have a strength of character or a strong woman would not like them in the first place.

I forget to show that strength. What does that mean? It means I need to go about showing those characteristics in a positive way. What is it you do, or don't do, as the case may be?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

As it turns out, the whole site was redesigned. That's right, folks, SHE CAN BE TAUGHT!

LOL I have been trying since last summer to post pics off of my computer on to my site. Ask @tamiklockau as she "showed" me where the picture button is. Now that I have added one as gadget, next will be on on the blog post itself. :)

I just read an interesting post by @jamigold about regular blogging. She pointed out that maybe I could do posts ahead of time. Now, I have tried it more than once. The last time it worked. I like the idea. I'm thinking about Wednesday as it seems to be slower blog day for a lot of people I follow, as well as Sunday.

Now, if I'm doing this ahead of time, I could easily do three a week. I think. I have noticed I either have plenty of time, or no time to give to my blogging on any given day.

I am getting closer and closer to publishing. I have many agents who have passed on something I sent them, only to ask me to please send me other work. I mean, outside of the form rejection. It's time to up the notch a bit on my blogging.

So, to all my faithful blogger followers, new and long term, what days would you like to see me do this? And would 3 days be a good number? As this is about my road to publishing while being a full time mom, I'm thinking two about how writing is going and one about family life. Or one of each and one being whatever has a point to me that week. I am open to suggestions!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

LOL I am still here :D I have been madly editing for contest that I entered. Sorry to say I did not make final cut, but Deidre Knight, agent for The Knight Agency, sent me a twitter letting me know I was in good company, that the choice had been a hard one. And, here's the part that made me favorite the tweet, to please send her future work:) Can't ask for more than that from losing a contest!

Plus, in the midst of the contest, I saw that a specific house wanted thrillers (One of which I just happen to have) so I did the boring edits this past weekend. During the editing period, I sent twits out as story time from bits and pieces of my story. Well, Monday morning I woke up to an editor's request (through twitter) to please send to her :)

In this business, one never knows. However, I have had many requests from agents that I have submitted to, to send in future work to them. I am "this" close guys! I keep writing new stories in the hopes that one will make it. I learn something with every tale.

Plus, by following my favorite blog--edittorrent--I keep my brain refreshed on plotting ideas, pacing, and most importantly for my befuddled brain, grammar. I'm on a major roller coaster ride. For me, it is a high to be asked for my work!

How has your week been? Any highs and lows to go with mine :) I love to hear from others, whether by twitter or on comments, so don't be a stranger!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

I DID IT!!! I made it through the hellish month, sans thyroid meds, which affects my energy and memory, and still wrote 50k!

I wrote at least 4k on other projects as well! I finished on the second to last day. Last year, I finished a while before, but kept writing until I had 64k and more on other projects.

But this year, I had to struggle to write. It has been the paranormal that has been really sticking it to me. Turning off the inner editor completely ended up being impossible, which slowed me down. And, I'm trying to write it for a specific house/editor that really liked the premis of a short story I wrote last year (one of the projects I was working on during Nano last year!) and I have really struggled with many issues, from boredom because I outlined too much detail and wasn't happy with the main character's state of being. It is a series so I felt he needed a better hook.

I finally found it, but my laptop was stolen :( I had about 100 words in seperate file on my computer from the original writing of the scene, so was able to save that. Plus, I knew how I wanted the first scene to go, so I was able to do it. I have more words that will be copied in, now that Nano is over. That way, I can work it into the scenes better.

Otherwise, I have previously thrown out like 60k words on this particular project making it hard to write with abandon as I had done the past year.

However, I did it :D

In other news, one of my twitter friends posted about a contest the Knight Agency was sponsering, It was held on the last day of Nano. I still made myself be up and commented. I was one of the first 125 so I got in. And I made the first cut. They ended up taking 175 entrants and I made the cut down to 30 finalists! I will find out sometime on the 8th if I made the next cut :D

I'm thrilled to have made this first cut. It is the fantasy story that I entered. One I have futzed with. The one I wrote my voice out of. Well, in putting my voice back in, I had an epiphany. After writing in the changes, I ignored those few weeks of Nano. When I re-read it, I really like my revisions! Not only did I put a voice back into my MS, I rearranged a couple of scenes and I like the impact.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

If you 're my nano buddy, You will notice very little word count change. I have discovered that I do not write well when I am very cold. A little cold is invigorating! But we got extremely cold here.

I'm not sure why it's so bad. My MIL lived here before us. Everytime we visited, it was WAY too hot. I finally picked up two space heaters--one for each bathroom. I'm warming up. Our pipes froze to the laundry room and one bathroom. Today, in middle of Thanksgiving turkey dinner cooking and giving boys baths (it was finally warm enough!), the water quit working. Just like that. I went to wash off eggs I had peeled, and in the time it took to peel 2 eggs, BAMN the water was gone.

My husband managed to reroute the water. We have water back in kitchen, 1 bathroom (thank god!) and the laundry. Will have to have pumpkin pie tomorrow since the water going off put me behind. I'm thankful we didn't take our friends up on the offer to go to their house. It would have been dark when we got home and NO WATER> Instead, it was a minor inconvenience that will repeat tomorrow, but hopefully be over then.

Word wise, I've gotten about 100 or so. I was going to write a lot yesterday, and I tried. I was able to work a couple of things out in my mind, but I was too cold to do more than a little bit. Warmer today, so maybe tonight will get a chance to write. I've already warned everyone, that I am doing very little over next three days but write. Maybe five days.

My husband had to stay home yesterday to try and deal with the frozen pipes and his car didn't start in morning. Result? He lost 12 hours of work, and the paid holiday. If you don't work the day before and the day after, you don't get the holiday pay.

Result of that? total loss of 28 hours of paid time. Result of that? I don't get to go to Ocean and paint. My MIL was going to take me to ocean next weekend (after Nano ended) so I could spend 5 days painting. Instead, sigh. Oh well. Maybe another time.

I'm really bummed about it. :((((((

Okay, pity party over. At least until day I was supposed to leave. So, I managed to make two more hats for baby (two I already made are somewhere...) one for busband, and one for my other two boys, scarf for husband, hats and scarfs for friend's kid's birthday. Need to make hats and scarfs for nieces for Christmas, and re-make me some. I don't know if I have enough yarn because the mice took over myart room. I'm taking it back, but I lost more yarn :(

In some ways, a very trying week. However, it should help me to go fresh at the writing tomorrow while it was swirling in my mind these last fiew days. I will make the 50k. I will be struggling to make the 70k. It's possible. I've written that much in a week before. Let's hope life cooperates!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

I'm at 42,598 Word word count :D Did about 2k last night. And was apparently wrong on ending word count or something, idk because I did over 2k yesterday. Of course, I did have low day on Friday, so maybe it's right.

I'm writing a love scene which is helping my word count, but sounds silly to me. I have found that while I don't mind readingt he love scenes, that writing is a much harder task.

How do you make it sound sincere, not crass. Loving yet hot. Sensual and sexual yet not crude. All of these things and more keep running through my head. They are psychic, one more than the other, and Soulmates. So there's the paranormal aspect that should be blended it. It slowed me down considerably.

Of course, having a 6 and 9 yo buggin me for computer time every 5 secs did not help. Also, in between writing times, I clean, play with kids, etc. One of my clean times I found evidence of long term mice STUFF.

I have barely had my art/craf room set up for maybe six weeks. Yet, the mice have made new hole in wall, nested in three yarn cubes and ruined a ton of my string yarn and squatted on other stuff on top of the cubes. I mean hard core.

One of my costume tubs in my closet popped its lid and the mice have been using it for a luxury spa I think. I swear, if I had not seen this cat eat three mice with my own eyes, I would think he wasn't even trying!

Good part is that the mice are no longer sauntering across my living room and kitchen like they own it. I caught one mouse that used to walk between TV stand and next bit of hide out space. It would stop and look at whoever was sitting on couch and chatter at them. I kid you not.

Now, it stops at end of TV stand and sits and shakes before trotting itself out. I'm afraid to look in my paper stash after what I found in my yarn stash, though. They are eating through everything to make quick escape routes, even my lacquered drawers made out of real wood. Pine dressers. And the mice are ruining them! UGH LOL. I'm thinking I may have to right a farce about my micecapades :D

Friday, November 19, 2010

I posted yesterday, really I did. However, my internet card over heated. Anyhow, My word count end for last night is 39,770! Yehaw and all that jazz. I'm terribly excited. I was so far behind this time last week (for personal goal. I don't beilve I've ever fell behind Nano's suggested numbers) and now, I will make it to 70k if I do 3k a day everyday. So that means I need a couple of 5k days to make up for Thanksgiving! lol

Also, saw a few of my Nano buddies do some awesome catch up. A few more are on their way to the goal, and a couple have finished! Funny thing is, one is a buddy from last year who had not finished at all, much less early!

I love our group of writers :D Have a great weekend. I plan on blogging this weekend, but I will be sans husband and teenager to help! Wish me luck in my writing and craft endeavors!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

It's easier for me in the morning, so I may be blogging the day before's info every morning. Please note that that is MY morning. Which today is 1015 only because my husband can't be awake by himself apparently. LOL He says I simply woke up but...

Any hoot, despite many attempts at sabatoge by my 6 yo and quite a few by my other children, minor emergency of my teen (I'm all set to go, I just need my ASB. 25 bucks. Cash.), my husbands bad day at work which meant I needed to spend some extra time letting him vent, and the regular household chores, I passed my daily quota and moved into make up time.

New word count is 34,694! Can I get a big Hell yeah! (That's Word word count. Nano is about 20 words shorter. Which is weird because last year it gave me ten words more than my count. Go figure.)

Wish me luck today. Also, feel free to share your writing experiences here as each day goes by--even if you are struggling or doing Nano. Like exercising, writing is better with a buddy.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Wow, what a day! My 2 yo is quite the handful. He has to dump out everything and anything he can get his hands on. Drinks are the worst problem. But lately, he's been having a go at the litter box. Whatever it is that gets him into the most trouble, that is what he repeats the most often.

I know, kid wants attention right? Well, sort of. He wants to get you playing with him with whatever he's not supposed to be doing (Ie turning on off TV/VCR/game system) and make you laugh. Problem is, he is so darn cute that it is hard not to!

Anyways, we played and wore him out. He's asleep right now. I'm afraid he will wake up soon :(

In the meantime, I am up past 29,600! yeah. Did a little catch up anyway. Now I'm only down 5,400 from my personal goal. Which is good! I don't remember where I was at last year, but I ended with 64k, so I'm slightly behind the pace set last year. However, this year, the story has given me fits and I'm having trouble turning my inner editor off. Means less problems editing later, but my word count is starting to suffer.

One thing that is good though, I put in a short chapter introducing the villian about four chapters sooner to up the ante a little bit. I mean, there's a murder in the first chapter, but we don't get much of a glimpse of the bad guy until later. I realised that would not do, so I put in a little voyeurism at the murder scene, and sent her off to have sex with her cohort in crime.

Here's a small excerpt from the last few days...

She felt that burning now, and touched herself quickly despite the public venue. She needed relief. She took one more look at all the faces, their fear and panic, the emergency workers who looked sickened.

Power hummed in her blood. She went around the back way and went home. He was there waiting, hard, wanting her as much as she wanted him. He was in it up to his eyeballs.

What was that called? She had seen it on television. Oh, yes, she remembered. Accessory after the fact. Same penalty. She smiled a pouty sexy smile at him. But, not as much fun.

She grabbed his hair and kissed him hard, then lost herself in the moment.

She had no idea how many witnesses were there. How many other world creatures rode the high with her.

If she had known there was a demon riding her as hard as she was riding her lust companion, that he had control over her, she would not have believed it. The power blinded her to all but her own needs and feelings.

She loved the kill. She was in control. She knew it.

The demonic laughter floating around the room was not heard by her or him. They didn't know it, but their time was up. Soon, very soon.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Holy cow. I forgot that I had internet troubles so the friday one did not post. I completely spaced it yesterday. Was busy coming out my ears. However, despite the business of grocery shopping, clothes shopping (which I hate!), and dating and all that entails (my husband got me clothes and hair dye LOL) I still managed to write Fri-Sat. I'm just getting started for tonight, so not looking to accomplish a huge amount.

I did, however, have a good date with my husband :) We have been doing better at making time for each other than in the past decade. Maybe we will truly make it to the next decade marker.

My current word count is 26,663 and my heroine is recovering from her demon induced heart failure. What will she find out? First person she sees is the hero's mother. Will she figure out the true evil before it's too late???

Can the hero save her from a fate that makes death look like a walk in the park? Stay tuned for next time on what's my story :D

Thursday, November 11, 2010

I didn't get far yesterday. I only did about another 500 words before having to stop and take care of baby :) I did get over 2k done today. So from last nights 20900 I am at 24153! Most of which I wrote today. I'm going to try again real quick, but I have 2yo complaining mightily already!

My word count is behind my personal goal, but I am days ahead of the rest of Nano's goals...According to my stats, despite 3 days of virtually nothing, I still average over 2k a day and only need 1362 a day to finish. Well, as everyone knows, I have a family. I heartily doubt I will get to write everyday. So here's me, off to snag a few extra words before my other life rushes in!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

I have a few hundred words in, even though I had to take it easy today for health reasons. I currently left my heroine with the medics rolling her in to the ER, ready to do defib. My hero following close behind, not knowing what the hell caused her to drop so badly and fast, and our detective trying to avoid being discovered by angels and demons fighting over her.

Whoo! this scene is hot. Hopefully, I don't kill it in my current lethargic mood.

Word count is roughly at 20900 thereabouts and I obviously have a good many to go. I want to be at 25k tonight. We shall see...

I think it's excerpt time. Here's a sample of the fifth chapter.

[Damian}He heard the commotion before he saw it. One EMT was holding an IV bag, the paramedic was getting ready to shock with the defibrillators. She had obviously taken a turn for the worst. He looked around for Kenny and saw him trying to look around the workers and get a glimpse Kristen.

Damian felt his heart in his throat. A large demon was fighting with an angel, moving right through everyone there. The temperature in the emergency room dropped ten degrees in a split second. People felt the cold even though they couldn't see the demon or angel the way he could.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

As I said in yesterday morning's blog, my son burned his hand. If you've ever gotten a cut or sore on your hands, particularly the forefinger and thumb, then you know that it makes it difficult to impossible to snap/button jeans. What did that mean to me/us?

It meant my 9yo couldn't do his own pants anymore, so I spent day sewing yesterday. I made him two pairs of pants with elastic waist and pockets. I now have orders for plenty more for rest of fam who are a bit jealous lol

Today, I wrote 2k words. Then went grocery shopping, made dinner, etc. I came back to do a bit more work, but uploaded my nanowrimo. When I got there, is saw my word count was over 18k!! I almost cried. My WIP is now a little over 19...

Sigh. Oh well. Maybe I accidently erased more than I thought... Or maybe I'm crazy and can't remember. After all, it has been 2 days o.o.

As of this time, my word count is at 19528. I'm ahead of nanowrimo schedule, but way behind my personal schedule. I need at least 21k to be on track of the 3k a day, 5 days a week. More if I want to make the 70k mark. Sigh.

Monday, November 8, 2010

My husband came home sick yesterday. So you know what I did? I went to the book store :) I got a book written in multiple POV and some christmas presents :) Here comes christmas here comes christmas.

I have large family so have to buy christmas over the course of few months/year. Plus, our health insurance is going to start in dec but so is the payments which will run us 400. about 25% of our take home pay. REALLY sucks. Anyhow,

Word count is around 17,400 right now. I'm hoping to wrap a good 20-23k before bed tonight. Would prefer to be at 24 k, but I doubt it.

My youngest son threw up again today. He throws up like 3 times a week now. Sometimes from coughing. Ususally just because, I guess. My husband said he threw up everyday before school when he was growing up. UGH

Then, my son lost the tums after taking one. He wanted one more and in the course of looking for them, tripped on hearth, caught himself with hand--on very hot wood pellet stove (our highs are expected to get to 40's this week--and had a burn. Husband was on his way to doctor and turned around to come get him.

My life is like that almost every morning (replace burned hand with asthma some days, or something else--fights, rebellion, etc--and you get a life in the day of me. It got old long time ago. And the doctor's wonder why Down Syndrome didn't worry me?? Scoffs. I am prepared. LOL

Saturday, November 6, 2010

I don't know what to say. Uber efficient today, despite my to elementary kids trying my patience beyond belief. This on top of a horrifyng spider incident which I shall relate another time.

I made awesome dinner, steak, peppers onions, corn, cheesy mashed potatoes, beer bread. Yep, my husband had a bad day and needed some loving.My start numbers were weird, gonna take a stab at saying about the same as what I posted last night. (I forgot to look:( and I'm crazy you know)

I erased lots of the other projects word count (seriously, lots) and made myself go until I was still over the minimum word count needed for each day. Worked out to close to 3k for me today.

I also sent off more queries. One had a mistake in it. Way bummed. Oh well. Can't ignore that part of the business as lots of agents close up after Nano.

Good news? At my current pace, I'll be done by November 17 with the minimum word count. However, I'm containing my excitement as I know that if one of the queries I have out request a partial, then I'll be putting in more editing hours. (I do not track editing hours! Why do I want to give myself that kind of headache????)

For now, my word count stands at an official 18480. I hope to write more tonight, but there it is. Here is an excerpt from my paranormal work called "Ghost of Kristen's Past"

As soon as she said the words, she felt an intense evil looking at her. She whipped her head around to face whatever was coming at her and gasped.

Its one eye was big as the palm of her hand, and its lopsided grin showed rotted teeth-like objects in what she assumed was his mouth. Fear gripped her as panic numbed her mind. It lumbered toward her and she reacted instinctively.

Her mind exploded out psychic energy, narrowed in on the Ogre's eye. She watched as a hole appeared dead center and wisps of smoke circled the eye. The Ogre dropped the club-like weapon it was carrying. It put both hands over the eye and screeched.

She had no time to savor the victory though because more were headed here way. Detective Damian stopped a large portion, but there were too many for one—person?—to fight.She felt Kenny at her back and smiled grimly. At least he was able to fight. Maybe this one would end better than their last fight. She took a step forward and punched the next lavender creature in the eye before focusing her energy on it. The two hurt Ogres screamed and danced around in pain, getting in the way of the oncoming demons.

Kenny stepped in front of her and picked up the two dropped clubs. He handed one to her. She nodded gratefully. They stood with their backs together. They kept moving, never exposing their backs as the demons tried to encircle them.

Kristen wished for her Guardian Angel. She had lived most of her life without ever knowing that she had one, but had come to appreciate hers real quick during the first battle against the demons.

She heard her blood pumping in her ears and felt the adrenalin coursing through her. She felt like a warrior. Except for that ball of fear in her gut. Then again, maybe that is how all warriors felt. She batted at the arm of an Ogre reaching for her. Surprisingly it shattered and bits flew into the air and spun around and around.

She ducked instinctively. She grabbed at Kenny pulling him down next to her as the pieces flew by their heads. She had no idea what would happen if a piece of demonic flesh were to hit them. Furthermore, she had no wish to know!

She watched Detective Damian cut off a green demon's head with his fingernails and gulped. She never wanted to get on his bad side. The demons were hissing and snarling and she felt overwhelmed by it all. She reached back and grabbed Kenny's free hand. It helped her focus and steadied her fears. She let go of his hand and gripped her bat with both hands.

Friday, November 5, 2010

I almost forgot to post this! Day five did not go quite as well as planned, so I incorporated the writing I've done on many projects today. I realized that I was hurting myself by spreading my words so thin. So, after the end, I am keeping track of other things I write, as of yesterday.

It's more to help my morale than anything. I am also querying and editing on two other books as I undertake this nano project. Today, I passed over 3k on other projects and decided I needed to track it better.

You can see why I needed to start tracking it together. So, if I remember, I will be posting these three totals from now on.

In other news, I guest blogged on the Peevish Penman. It's great and re Nano. I love the linked post. After all, I'm married to a Native... LOL Go read. I'll post address tomorrow. However, I've had two hours of sleep and the baby has woken up after only being down an hour!!!!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Start: 9100current: 10235also found a good plot element to make Hero more likable and stronger. He was kind of washy. Most of my male characters start that way. It's my women characters that come out of the box knowing what they want :)

Also added nearly 1k to fantasy and sent off query. Found few small errors and fixed them. Keep your fingers crossed. I'm starting to feel down. Means I need to eat something and play with my kids :)

Target word count for nan is around 5100 for the fourth day, but I want to be ahead! I want to take a day off here and there. Plus, 70k isn't going to happen without some serious word count sessions.

I'm having a lot of trouble turning off the inner editor on this one. I keep stalling. I may go back to the end and start writing it backwards again! Who knows. For now, I need sustenance.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Day 3 rocked for me. As I posted earlier, I finished my other assignment. I received news as to when my "guest blog" will be posting (Friday, I will post a link here :) and heard feedback on my Forever Nocturne story and artwork. I had a good writing day and it isn't over.

I pulled what I'd like to call reverse psychology on my characters and this story. The paranormal I've been trying to pin down for year? It's here and it rocks. Only thing is I wrote the last chapter before finishing the first chapter. Turned out to be the second to the last chapter. 5-6k words in a little over 24 hours (some last night, some this morning/afternoon) and I wrote the end. Now my characters know I'm not going to hurt them-much. And there is kissing involved. Maybe they'll get it together and tell me how they want to handle the rest of the first chapter?

See, I don't have the middle-slog problem a lot of writers seem to have. My problem is the beginning. I end up telling too much too soon. Or too much backstory that I then have to cut and add in by bits and pieces later. Nope, for me it is not the middle that perplexes me. It's how to keep the story interesting and give out the right amount of facts and backstory from the first.

I need to get back to it while I have the impetuous. So without further ado, here are my up -to-the-minute stats.

If you haven't been following along, then you might not realize that I am well aware that my start numbers are NOT the same as my end numbers. I don't quit writing after I post. I write and write and write... you get the picture.

Oh, and in case you missed it, (or I didn't post this?) the working title for the book is Ghost of Kristen's Past :D I know I want to read it. Now, to get the words down on paper so that I can print, print, print.

PS My goal is to do a MINIMUM of 3k a day, 5 days a week. However, my long term goal is to have more than 70k written by the end of the month. This book has had many false starts and lots of research. The only thing stopping me has been this silly mental block because of a sillier outline. Now, muse, drink up and taste the Pepsi. It's time to roll out the words!

So, day 2 started out ingloriously for me. I woke up, pushed the kids out the door to the bus, and tried to sleep for another three hours hoping eyes would quit feeling like sandpaper. What happened was my left arm went numb and I had chest pain. When this continued for half an hour, I started getting worried. I'm still not sure if I'm ripe for heart attack (I sure hope not because traditionally it has been the only organ not giving me fits!) or if it was a combination of asthma and carpool tunnel. My inhaler helps, but since shortness of breath is also a sign of a heart attack... Yeah, if it's not better, completely, tomorrow, I will be seeing a doctor. If it starts hurting worse, I'll be going in to the hospital. I don't have health care though, so the thought of going to hospital is stressful enough to cause the very thing I fear.

I ended up sleeping until 1 with multiple interruptions after taking benadryl, ibuprofen, and albuterol inhaler. I've been struggling the whole day with not letting fear stress me out beyond reason.

Stats:

Start: 2425 (I did write a bit more last night :)Word count as of time of this post: 4623

I have nearly 1400 more words before I'm at my personal goal level, but it is time to put boys to bed and take more aspirin. I'm having fun with this work in progress. Finally! lol. It's been very hard to get anywhere with this book.

I am writing the book backwards. LOL started first chapter, got frustrated, so went to last chapter. AND IT'S WORKING :) Plus I wrote on the fun article type assignment I have. It's at the minimum word count, so now it's all gravy :)

Monday, November 1, 2010

I'm writing this now because it is my youngest's birthday, and I want to be sure and get this in before the craziness begins.

Tentative title. Ghost of Kristen's PastGenre: paranormal romanceQuick log line: A half-demon half-human fights his nature and tries to help fight for the humans he comes in contact with. He also makes it a personal quest to get together as many soulmates as he can as it upsets the demon world the most.Day1 start: 0Day1 at time of this post: 2,156 just 844 words shy of my 3k goal.

I'm still not done for the day--at least I plan on writing more. How are your goals for the day?

Saturday, October 30, 2010

I was sitting here trying to come up with names when one came to my attention. The alliteration with the heroine's name was great and I was on the verge of typing it on my special "NANO" page when I thought of someone I knew by that name. He isn't the only one I know with that name, but he is the first one my mind flashed. Please believe me when I say he is not soulmate material for a demon paranormal series. *sigh. I don't know what to do. I wrote a trial scene of this book and YIKES! It's going to be tricky. *insert a visual of me sitting here biting my cuticles as I contemplate What the Hell to name my character.

See, as I think I've mentioned, I'm a pantster. A dyed in the wool pantster. However, it dawned on me that I might want a few visuals to aid me if I get writers block so I thought I'd pin down some of the ideas that have been floating in my head FOREVER. Okay, not forever, just for a year and a half, but it FEELS like forever. The main character (no not the actual hero, more the anti-antigonist) has been eating away at my conciousness wanting to know when it was his turn again. So, NaNo is providing the impetuous to tell his story and that of those he helps.

Have you ever thought of a perfectly good name for a character and then had it ruined because of someone you know? *sigh* back to the outline.

PS all those chores I talked about earlier. Um. Yeah. I went to sleep. Although, I do have a good idea for tone and a few guidelines for the short book type thing I'm involved in. So, off I go. Back to work on my writing. *whistles* TTFN

Halloween, NaNoWriMo, Younget's 2nd birthday, trick-or-treating all in the next two days? LIfe is revving up for me. I still have some planning for meal times to do, laundry to catch up on, kids to duct tape, er I mean prepare, and presents to wrap. Not to mention a fun "chapter" to write for part of what looks to be a fun book of awesomeness. I am proud to be included :)

So, with all that to do, I leave you with this short blog to say, Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

My brother died over a year ago, yet, I still feel as if he should be here. Like somehow, the cosmos made a huge mistake in taking that loving, lively, laughing brother of mine away from this world. "The world is a better place with you in it." I swear that the quote was made for my brother and others like him. Sometimes, I feel like yelling at God, "don't you have enough angels up there? Couldn't you leave him heere with us?" I've been better on a daily basis lately. However, better is relative word like no other. You can be better and still be bad.

What I've found is his death, and all it meant to me, rears its ugly head when I'm getting down about other things as I was Monday night. I'm starting to pull myself up by the bootstraps. As a person who ALWAYS gets postpartem depression, I have absolutely no wish to be stuck in that state of mind.

It's been hard. I look twice my age now, which will hopefully change back as I keep climbing out of this pit of despair. (Yes, I love the Princess Bride:) It's amazing how a few days can change things. I started to apply this thinking and idea to my writing.

Sometime, I despair that I will never write enough or good enough. However, I've learned that I'm too much a perfectionist. I know, you can't tell by my blogs as I let them slide with errors--but not always. However, for me, the blog is a way to keep up. If I allow myself to overstress it, then I don't do it. See the months with few posts? Sometimes, that's a simple internet problem. But mostly, it's because I'm afraid that no one will like what I write or that there will be to many errors in it. Well, I've decided to buck up and take it like a man. (Can't you hear the deep bass voice there LOL) So, here's me blogging more. Here's me doing NaNoWriMo with my internal editor TURNED OFF. No really. It may throw itself on occasssionally, but it is going bye bye for a month.

What happens? In a few days, I have a ton of words on paper, sometimes as much as 20k in 3-4 days. Now that is a big difference. Three days, people. Three days. What can change in your life in three days? Think about it. Make a goal for every three days. It will be easier than hitting a larger goal a month out and the progress you see will give you a huge boost of confidence to sweeten the success.

I love my brother. I still talk to him sometimes. I still miss him. I cry. One day, I'll tell you about my story at the fair that happened where I swear I saw him. (no, it wasn't him, but...) In the meantime, when you're feeling down, give yourself small, attainable goals and reach for the stars! A misnomer? No. Reach for the stars one light year at a time.

Tell me here, what are some of your goals? What are you doing to pull yourself up by the bootstraps when you need to? Do you write or paint like I do? Do you cook? (btw I love to eat ;;) Do you sew? What do you do the most? Or do you switch it up?

Share your thoughts here in the comments section, if you want. But if not, at least tell yourself you are worthy of these breaks and of success and GO FOR IT!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

I'm excited for NaNoWriMo. I'm also excited because some artwork/writing was accepted into an ezine http://forevernocturne.wordpress.com for the October issue slated to releases any day now :) Now, if I can only get my goodies made for next month, I'd be all set.

How about you? Anyone doing NaNo? Who's ready? (Except the writing part. I keep changing my mind about what I'm going to write. I've gone back to the paranormal again, but we shall see.)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

This is going to be a long way around something, but things have been too disturbing in my neighborhood lately.

If you haven't read my rant about losing my freezer, go back a few blogs and do so. There. Now you see my state of mind?

Okay, a related update to forthcoming story? The Thursday before my freezer went missing, I came home to the neighbor's dog having come to our place to die from a bullet wound. Not pretty, but as a former EMT I could tell them the dog was seriously injured internally. From the outside it looked like a through-and-through his ear. It wasn't.

He was doing the harsh last breath. I told the neighbors I had done my normal, "Smoky, go home!" at him. He is a pit bull (lower teeth removed) mix and a nuisance. On a regular day/night he gets up trots to his side of the fence and commences barking.

This day, he looked at me forlorn and I gasped. Flies covered his head and he made no move to get them off. Blood poured off him. I quickly yelled for the neighbors to come over. When I told them he wasn't moving like normal and I though he was hurt, they thought I was complaining.

"Oh, we'll get the hose. It makes him move."

"No. He's in shock, at the very least. Don't soak him with the hose." They looked at me funny. I'm not Smoky's biggest fan. He's annoying and tears up my yard and my things. Yep, fence coming in with next tax return.

Yet, here I was telling them how to best not hurt him. What's the world come to when people have to be surprised that you can get over your personal dislike to help an injured animal? They knew I cared about animals as I'd helped with other animals.

Anyway, we got warm water to rinse off some of the blood and try to find the injury under the flies. It was a bullet hole in his ear. He was too far gone and had to be put down. It was a very sad thing. Worst for the mother, I believe. They'd had that dog for over 10 years. I felt bad for her. So then my freezer went missing that weekend.

I had a more than passing thought that the two incidents might be related. I spread the word that I would be offering a reward for the return of my freezer but that it would be accompanied by a police report. I let the week go by to see if I had any takers.

No bites. I was getting ready to follow through on things when something happened. The neighbor lady came over. She doesn't speak English so she had to bring her younger kids over to translate. Guess what they had to translate? Worse, they knew and had seen part of this incident.

They had a female dog (part poodle) that they used to sell her pups with. She had the cutes puppies and people were willing to pay 100 for them even though they were essentially mutts. That is how cute they were.

The first question was "Did you see who shot our white dog?" They said her name, but I don't remember it.

"What?" I was incredulous. "The little white one?"

Dogs roam this area cuz it's on the reservation and despite sheriff intervention, few are restrained. It's also not a big traffic area. But that dog wasn't bad and mostly stayed home. Once in a while she'd travel out with a few others, but almost never. She hardly barked, was sweet, didn't dig up my garden, chase my car, or the other things that put us all in relative danger. She was easy to manipulate and never even growled at anyone.

Even when I was trying to chase her out of my yard, I couldn't put any real heat into it. In fact, there was so little heat, the pups came up on the porch to play with me. That's how gentle she was. I'm seriously annoyed at the dogs for getting into my stuff and I still couldn't really chase her off.

So, to say the least, I feel bad. The kids went nuts when they knew I hadn't shot their dog. (Did I tell you how annoyed I was at the dogs? They all knew that I was beyond furious. I lost a whole years garden because of the neighbors dogs and they know I'm so not happy. Plus, they bark at 120ish every morning--give or take half hour for lateness of the train--sometimes that is when I've gotten baby down and almost asleep. He hears the pups and wants to play. See? Annoyed.) They talked over themselves and the mom was speaking in Spanish. I understand just enough Spanish to make the whole thing confusing.

Finally, the older daughter comes over and basically, this is what happened. Someone shot the dog. Let it get ran over, and then, put it in a trash bag, AND LEFT IT ON THEIR FRONT PORCH FOR THE KIDS TO FIND. I am livid. That is a truly shitty thing to do.

Your sick of dogs in your yard? Fine. chase them off. If they threaten you or your kids, fine shoot them. (I don't like this, but I've seen some of the dogs around here. Pack mentality and some of these dogs have been bred for dog fights. We've been in more trouble because we keep taming the pups we see around. They become too playful for dog fights. Oohh don't I feel bad? Ruining all that time and energy of breeding dogs for fights? NOPE NOT AT ALL. I'm kinda aggressive that way. I have no proof to take to the cops or I would. So I do what I can to stop it with little things like loving the animals since they're being so obliging and letting them run around my yard:P)

ANYWAYS. I am totally and thoroughly pissed. See, a week earlier someone had told my son that if he didn't keep the dog (the one that's not our dog but that follows him around and protects him whenever he's not at his "other" home?) away from their yard, they'd shoot it. This dog is so friendly that he sits and shakes when he sees you.

What the fucking hell you doing threatening a 9 & 6 YO with shooting the dog you think is theirs? REALLY? When I get proof of who it was, this momma gonna go postal on their a--, uh, there's going to be trouble. Sorry rabbit trail.

If that's not bad enough you're going to shoot a dog, run her over, throw her in a trash bag and leave it on the porch for the kids to find? I'm so upset. I told the neighbors I was sick of it.

The father of one of the children showed up to see why we were all congregating at my front door. I know he understands English as well. He told me of a former friend of theirs that had been standing on my car but Smoky chased off. That did it. Jerks were jumping on my cars when I wasn't looking? Yeah, NO. So I went into tough mode.

"My freezer was the last straw for me. Doing this to your harmless dog was plain shitty. If I don't have my freezer back IMMEDIATELY, I'm going to file a police report. Then I'm going to call my friends in SAR (ran by the sheriff's office here in our county) and ask them to start sending at least one patrol car by everyday. As a former SAR member and volunteer firefighter, it would happen." Their faces all got an interesting look on it.

"I know that would piss some people off around here, but that puppy was shitty work. They knew who and where and it was a little dog that didn't bite or even threaten to bite anyone." Spread the word. If my freezer isn't back and another animal is so senselessly hurt, I will be calling the police and they will be patrolling. Daily, if not more often."

Hell, I might anyway. Through the talking things out process, it has occurred to me that I might be dealing with cousins on this manner. The mom is looney. I mean seriously. Has come and threatened my MIL on occasion. Well, now the 19 yo daughter JUST found out she has cancer and my DH mom and dad are over there a lot. I don't know what I'm going to do if I find out it was them. They better hope the neighbors don't find out. Two dogs shot in a week is enough to start a feud. I would end up in the middle of it. I so don't need that on my plate.

Anyway, with the threat of constant police patrols (It would happen. They drive by the area FREQUENTLY and it would take very little time or effort to swing through the town instead of skirting it.) in the air I hoped for less problems regarding the dogs.

That was yesterday. And oh yeah, did I mention that my boys all followed me out and locked the door? Seriously, I was locked out.

So around noon, my teenager comes rushing in. "We found the freezer. It's not very far from here. We need a tarp."

"Where is it?"

"In the ditch that's not really a ditch."

I knew exactly what they meant. LOL I gave them keys to the van instead and they brought it back. It still had a magnet we had on it from before it went into storage. It was ours. The model placard on the front was cracked but otherwise it's in fine condition.

Amazing what a little networking will do. Now if we can spread the word about the dogs. Keep them tied up and quit shooting the harmless ones with homes.

Monday, October 25, 2010

So I started this on Sunday's post, I'm setting this to auto post (first time ever!) because a friend has suggested that I go overnight hunting with her before the season fully ends. However, I didn't want to leave y'all hanging until Wednesday. (And yes, Y'all is something I was saying due to a play I was in. I had not quite gotten it out of my system before living in TX. Now, I doubt I ever will :P)

We left our disgruntled hero waiting to see if a hospital visit was in order and our heroine trying not to laugh.

Without further ado, Part 2 in our fairy tail...

Out of habit, Leona dialed the Xray department where her father in law worked during the day.

"X-ray department." A woman answered the phone absently.

"I'm sorry, I meant to call the main number. But maybe you can help. If my husband was just bit by mice does he have to be seen by a doctor?" Leona just barely kept the laughter out of her voice.

"Um, I don't know. Let me ask someone." The nurse spoke slowly as if confused. Leona listened to the muffled voices, giving her husband covert looks under her eyelashes.

"Is it infected?" The female voice finally asked.

"I don't know. It just happened." Leona was a little exasperated. Really? How was she supposed to know?

Leona sat in stunned silence for a moment. "You think my husband bit the mouse." A bark of laughter burst out of her. "No," she finally said breathlessly. "He was bit twice by a mouse." There was no stopping the giggles now. She could imagine the gossip going around the hospital now.

"Oh, in that case, he needs to see a doctor soon," the nurse said so fast that it was apparent that would have been her initial answer if she hadn't been thinking that it was the man biting the little rodent.

Leona hung up and took a deep breath to still the laughter.

"Okay, honey, we need to go. She said you have to see a doctor soon and your clinic doesn't open until Monday."

"Really? Now?" he was incredulous.

"You were bit by a rodent. You probably need to at least take antibiotics or something."

He starts shrugging into his coat when Leona stops him. "You're going to have to wait a minute because I have to change this shirt," she said emphatically.

She pulled the picture of the John Deere tractor out away from her chest with both hands and peered down on it. "There is no way on God's green earth that I am going to the hospital in a John Deere shirt to tell them my husband was bit by a mouse."

"I--" he started to say than changed his mind. "Okay. You know I only got bit because I was trying to put it outside instead of killing it."

"Yes, honey, I know," she said, her voice muffled through the shirt she was putting on. She knew he would figure out how hard it was not to be laughing if she kept saying 'honey' but it was hard. "You're my hero. It is really sweet that you were trying to help me not feel so bad. Really it is. I love you." She meant every word. It was probably the most romantic thing he'd done in ages. Worrying about her feelings over a mouse was above and beyond as far as she was concerned.

Twenty minutes later they pulled into the emergency room parking lot. Leona had stifled giggles off and on all the way to the hospital.

"Honey, you will probably have to explain it. I'm sorry. I won't be able to without cracking up too bad." She got out of the car and shut the door.

"I noticed. I'll take care of it," he said.

At the admitting window they went through the initial paperwork. When Nathan began describing the incident, a giggle escaped Leona. The woman in admitting lost it a little and grinned.

"Oh no, don't laugh," Leona said. "I won't be able to hold back." It didn't help. They were both laughing as the receptionist tried to finish asking the necessary questions. Nathan took it all in good naturedly and even smiled a little himself.

The triage nurse was almost through when she realized he was bitten on both thumbs. When she asked how that happened, Nathan sighed. He knew it was going to be the end of her ability to not laugh. He was right.

When the nurse heard how he had ended up with both thumbs bitten, she smiled.

"You should get a cat," she said.

"We are," the couple responded in unison.

An ER nurse came and got him from the lobby and they went back to a corner room. When she heard the story her lips twitched. Leona was laughing outright by this point. The story was funnier every time. She kept having to assure her husband that she loved him and he was her hero for trying to save the mouse, but it was funny.

The nurse then told him we should get a cat. Nathan and Leona rolled their eyes. It was Nate who answered. "We are. It's on its way."

Leona studiously went back to the newspaper whe was reading in an attempt to distract herself.

Then the robust, good natured doctor arrived. "We're going to give you a tetnus shot and antibiotics. You should be fine. If you show any signs of infection or get a fever, come back or go see your doctor." He laughed as well at the story. "Get a cat," he said while leaving.

"We are," Nathan said yet again, setting off Leona's giggles.

A few minutes later the doctor came back to shut the door as she was giggling uncontrollably now. They'd forgotten to tell the doctor they had the mouse with them. It was in the plastic sack Nathan had carried in and promptly set somewhere because neither one of them had wanted to hold onto it.

He looked at the mouse than back at the couple with his eyebrows raise? "This is the mouse that bit you? This little thing? No wonder she is laughing," he said indicating her with the nod of his head.

"They told us we had to come in," Nathan said defensively, but with no real heat.

"Yes, yes. It's true. But," he seemed to change his mind and said instead. "The nurse will be back soon with your tetanus shot. Good night." Smiling hugely at us with his large straight teeth, he left the room closing the door behind him.

The nurse came in and gave him his shot and his antibiotics. Going over the signs to watch for again and handing him a prescription. She smiled at us, twinkling. "Be careful next time," she admonished.

"Oh, we will," Nathan promised her as Leona giggled again.

By the time they left the hospital it was two in the morning. He had been scheduled to work a twelve hour shift at five. He wasn't going to make it.

Leona had to work at seven so they went home and he called and left a message explaining about the shot that gave him side effects not appropriate for working with machinery--dizziness and nausea.

The next day, Nathan went back to work. How the men at work howled at him. When they could stop laughing they gave him a new nickname. "Mickey it is you. You were felled by a little mouse."

Leona's twitter friends were laughing as well. Some even suggested he might turn into a weremouse. She laughed out loud. As a former EMT Leona knew how to handle a lot of things. Could even help save a life if needed. But having her husband look so insulted at being bit by a tiny mouse all for love was too much.

The war on the mice is now very personal for both of them. Pregnant mice, young mice, have been spotted scurrying around the closests and across the floors.

"Laugh it up. Soon, I shall be the one laughing. The cat is coming," she said grimly to one especially openly rebellious mouse.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

I had a long week, but mostly productive. I got called to work and ended up working three days, not just one. Which, as it turned out, was fortuitous as my husband missed a day of work that would have included 8 hours of over time :(

Guess how much my three days of work would have put us ahead? About the same amount as we lost. So, that's the breaks. Does anyone know the story of how he ended up losing a day of work?? I'm going to tell it...

Part 1

Once upon a time, in a not so far off land, there lived a woman named Leona who had seen too many Disney movies. All those cute little mice who were so smart and loveable. She hated the thought of killing them but the time came where she had to. Life in the real world included mice that left nasty messes.

She struggled with the concept of having to kill these maurading mice even as they ransacked her yarn, but she asked her husband to please pick up traps. Well, the traps almost worked. Her and her family caught one mouse in over a week. A far cry from the more than twenty she was sure were living in her house. She had no idea why so many, but it didn't matter. She had a baby to protect.

Then she had a bright idea! Make a humane house trap. It worked. It looked lovely and the mice liked it. Yet, they were never caught. They sniffed it out, she saw them, but they never fell in.

Now these mice were not afraid of mere humans. In fact, they laughed at the humans. The mice stopped to watch the funny creatures play video games. Only running if you got too close to their space. Their space. Really. That's how they see it.

They ran across the living room, barely ducking behind objects. They ate whatever they wished whenever they wished. The only thing that seemed to stop them was Tupperware. Nothing else slowed these theives down.

Poor Leona. She despaired of ever getting rid of them. Hundreds of dollars of yarn, countless amount of food lost. Gone forever. Why was she stuck with so many?

One night, she sets out a box of butter to soften over night so she can make her husband cookies. Real butter. Not margarine. The next day, she found the butter box all the way across the kitchen, near the fridge with the sticks out and partially eaten. The mice had struck again!

Now she was furious. To Leona, it had become personal. The war was on. She started being diligent about chasing them out of her living area whenever she even thought she heard them. She found their holes and put traps in front so they had to go over the trap to get out. It worked!

Once. One mouse died.

After that, the mice set the trap off before coming out. How in the... Well she was getting manic about trying to trap the mice and get them out of her house. She moved her yarn into an empty room she had recently shampooed. The mice followed and more yarn was lost. Why were there so many mice in her house?

Then her mother in law, a loving woman who used to live in the very same house, pointed out the obvious.

"Honey, they cleaned up at the house behind you, didn't they? Burning all the brush and taking away all those old rusty cars and junk? Maybe that's where all the mice are coming from."

"Holy cow, of course," she replied. "I'm sure that's it. Fifty years of collecting junk and brush all of the sudden cleaned and burned probably sent all the wildlife in a tizzy. Explains the huge rush of spiders we had as well." She was frustrated. It was fine they figured out the why of the influx but she still had to chase them out.

"A cat! We shall get that cat my daughter has tried to give me. I'll have to talk my husband into it, but I'm so sick of the mice." A few days later, Nathan, her husband had agreed. Now she had to get ready for the cat. Buy food, litter, and make a place for it.

But work called and put a kind in their plans. Leona had to work. One night, after her shower, she dresses in her favorite night shirt--her John Deere Tractor shirt and shorts. While in the bathroom, she hears a trap go off in her room.

"Nate, what was that? Sounded like a trap."

"It was. I'm checking them now," he replied. A minute later he finds the trap. It has a mouse stuck by its foot and tail. He has no trouble killing the rodents, but knows of his wife's misgivings. He picks up the trap intending to let the mouse go outside. It bites him. He puts it in his other hand to look at bite and the mouse bites his other hand.

He yelled and threw the mouse. She came running out of the bathroom. "What happened?" she asked worriedly.

"The damn thing bit me," he said grumpily.

Leona couldn't help it. She choked on a laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry. You have to go to the hospital now." She was trying hard not to laugh. Really. He sounded so disgruntled though.

"What? Why?" He said surprised and not at all pleased.

"I don't know. Rabies or something. You got bit by a wild rodent."

"Are you sure?" He eyed her suspiciously as the laughter had leaked out on the last words.

"Yes, I'll look it up online." She hurriedly ducked her head behind the doorway before he saw the grin threatening to spill across her face.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

So, has anyone ever had their freezer stolen? Even if the rest of your things were? At some point last weekend, someone stole our freezer out of our backyard where it was defrosting from being used by my sister. I finally had my full upright freezer back. I'd been asking for it for 10 months.

I'd gotten space cleared off the deck where all the rest of our crap we'd gotten out of storage has been and it was a simple matter of moving a couple of my husbands tools around and waiting until my husband and teenager were home at the same time.

Then, it happened. We realized that it wasn't sitting on the pallet we'd put it on anymore. We don't live on a main thourough fare. Hell we live in a town whose residents are probably only 200 people give or take. You can't see our house from a road. We live on a private driveway with 4 houses. Yet, someone came with the means to haul off a full upright freezer. I am royally pissed. I mean completely royally pissed. I want to go postal. First at the fact I didn't get if from my sister when I was ready for it. It would have been by the door then. Second at the fact that someone planned to do this and waited utnil they knew we were gone.

I've been waiting for that freezer to do more storage of the wonderful food we have a plenty here during the summer and fall months. Now, I won't have it. I also won't have it during Thanksgiving time when they sell turkeys so darn cheap that I buy four to have throughout the year. I also won't have it when meat goes on sale and I want to buy bulk for my family.

Rant, rant, rant. I am pissed. I am so pissed. I was angry yesterday but I wanted a positive post after being off air, so to speak. Anyways, have any of you had a FREEZER stolen? Nothing else in the house has gone missing (this time). Just the freezer.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

So, I'm back on the web. Had a small hiatus there. I"ve now caught up and cleaned out my email inbox. My INBOX had over 2k Emails. Not sure exactly how many as I didn't think to look until after I started the "delete, delete, delete" but it was a lot. I now have less than a hundred. Whew! That was a lot of work.

I think of all the agents out there who can't do what I just did. A large portion of my deletes were personal interests that I imagined I'd actually have time to read/look at. Sewing, crafting, art stuff. I finally deleted them. Hopefully, I will be able to look at them in the future... I know I'm kidding myself, but I have to believe that someday, somehow, I will get to do what I want, when I want, how I want, without neglecting anyone. LOL

I am editing (Quest for Riverhand) and writing (see aforementioned) for now. With a dash of crochet, quilting and a dollop of cleaning thrown into the mix, I am plenty busy right now. I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo. I want to be finished editing my fantasy before then, but doesn't look like. Oh well. It gives me something to edit if the mood strikes, rather than tearing apart the WIP for NaNo.

I've definitively decided on the paranormal (the Damian series) for NaNo. The one that should have been written and published by now? Yeah that one. Maybe I'll actually get somewhere... You think? LOL I'm determined to get it finished. Not just the 50k whipped out. So 70k+ Well, 4kaday will have to be my goal. Remember, that's for five day weeks. That way, I should hit the bare minimum easily, even if I miss my personal goal. Of course, if by some weird fluke I make it everyday, That will mean I've finished and probably started a second book! Now THAT would be sweet! Yeehaw! I now have a new fervor for this thing. It had waned a bit because of the technical difficulties, but now is back full pitch.

Don't forget. I've given my followers an open option for kicking, er keeping, my butt in gear for this thing. Feel free to comment at any time :)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

You know? The one that I edited out my voice? Edited it so much so that one editor remarked that "your style of writing would be good for nonfiction"? THAT story? Well, I'd started a quick edit to put things back in. A couple of spots where it still hurt that I took stuff out. Added about 1800 words. Then you know what? I had to work on something else.

I finished my query workshop through CJ Redwine http://cjredwine.blogspot.com *you know, it's bad enough I can't do that fancy-schmancy hide a link under the words, but now, it won't even copy and paste the link! One of these days...* who is a fantastic and gifted query critiquer with a record number of only 3 tries. I don't remember the number from my first one. However, if you look back on my blog, you may find that I was so happy to have finally finished I may have dared to put it out there for all to see. Now, nope. Not happening.

So, with that query finished, waiting to hear back from queries, I went back to work on this one. However, before I actually opened up the file, I got word back on an art piece that I entered into forever nocturne's ezine. And you know what? They really liked it and said they had to find a story to match. So guess what? I wrote a short story to match. Now if only they like the story as much as the artwork! *bites nails*

So back to this wonderful fantasy and throwing back in those beautiful purple prose words that need to be there when you're world building. And guess what? I'll bet you can't guess. (Unless you follow me on twitter!) IT WAS GONE. AGAIN. Yep. It's happened before, despite this wonderful world of auto save and auto recover (a HUGE reason I still use Word, thank you.) I had lost it before.

During a woe is me pity party, a wonderful person @AuthoressAnon on twitter, asked if I'd sent it to anyone for critiqueing. Well, sort of I said. I sent a chapter at a time to a friend who then edited it and I, ehum, over fixed it, plus added a couple of scenes. That was gone. But then, this reminded me. Good little girl that I am, I had sent it to my husband as backup. The completed story with the edits. Yep. The day was saved. Well, that All happened again, except I kept the pity party short as I went straight to the back-ups to see if I'd sent in the corrections--and I did, of course. *Gulp*

So now, I'm putting in beautifully woven adjectives and description and when I went back through, you couldn't even tell. One more thing though. In all the rearranging I did (I moved a couple of scenes around in the beginning. mwah. Beautiful effect, I think.) I moved the description of the characters down a bit. I'll wait and see what the beta reader thinks. Then I'll worry. Now, it's there at the back of my mind as something that may come up.

Added another 1k last night. I'm jazzed. Rereading it myself and I can't hardly tell where the additions went. At least 2k words in the first 3.5 chapters and they seamlessly flow? *pats self on back* I am so relieved. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to add the necessary words without sounding stilted or contrived.

You know what else? This fantasy is what I wrote for last years NaNoWriMo. At the end of that month, it clocked in at 64k. Now it's 86+.

So for last NaNoWriMo, I wrote 64k on one book, and over 2k for another one. (I didn't clock the other one.) Talk about pressure on myself that I have to live up to. I'm thinking I may need to shoot for 70k That means, if I follow my own rule of taking 2 days off a week, I should aim at 4k a day. Definitely attainable if I put my mind to it. I had over 7k one day last year on this manuscript alone, plus some on the other. For the day I was around 8300 words. And I did hit 4-6 consistently.

So, do I have any writing buddies? Or people who want to egg me on, er, encourage me? And in case you missed it, my twitter handle is @L_Bushman now. Will be for my writing networking for ever and ever, amen. Well, maybe not that long :P

Friday, October 8, 2010

I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo. Lots and lots to do. Prep time, planning, etc are not my strong suits, even for cleaning. Oh, I can plan with the best of them, but SOMETHING always happens. Also, I am, by nature, a pantster. No doubt about it. If I know too much of what's going to happen, I'm bored, and for life, a bit pessimistic. I have too much experience of what happens to the schedule with mice and men who have large families and even larger extended families.

I don't know about you, but for me, the largest biggest obstacle in my life seems to be boredom. If my mind is bored, it's nearly impossible to engage. Even if I want to. Like with my kids. They're talking to me. It's important to them, so I'm trying to listen. But really, unless you're a Halo fan, who cares if the Brute almost killed Master Chief but you put a sticky grenade on him and he blew up? (Obviously, even in my inattentiveness I've managed to pick things up!)

Don't get me wrong, I love video games. When I was a kid, *here comes the dating* I was master Atari Pacman & Ms. Pacman player. No-one beat me. Until I got to be an adult and they changed all the d* joy sticks into controllers. Then I became a Master Super Mario Brothers player with a controller with A, B, and D-pad (I'm picking up the lingo!)--until they changed them again. At four, my son could use those controllers better than I ever will. Why? Because very few games can engage my interest long enough for me to WANT to learn and practice the fancy-pantsy moves on a controller that has as many gadgets as my car.

Whether or not you like games, I'm sure you understand my reference. It's not that I CAN'T learn it. I'm simply not interested. My time is better spent doing other things. However, if a game interersts me, than I learn.

I write the same way. If I plan things out. I. am. bored. No two ways about it. I thought I was just being lazy and I had an opportunity for a possible series so I outlined Everything. Now, I haven't got past the first chapter. After deleting over 60k in words, I'm still bored, but now I am very frustrated as well.

Maybe this is the story I need to write for NaNoWriMo? I hadn't even considered it. May be the impetuos that I need...

Update on Family: MIL doing Very well! Children all calming down and being less hellatious. Husband off to work although he says he's not feeling well :( I'm tired and my and the baby's allergies went sky rocketing at the latest routing of dust, garbage and mouse stuff. UGH The boys seem to be keeping this lingering cough that's affecting their asthma, although it's not as bad as it was. But otherwise we are all doing much much better. Sounds funny after the so/so comments, but believe me, the last 2 months have really sucked on the sick factor.

Fall Cleaning is going well again. I'm on an upswing! If only we could figure out a way to drive the mice back out! My MIL pointed out that the reason we have such a HUGE problem in the last 2 months is that they finally started cleaning the house/yard behind us. It has been collecting cars and debris for probably 50 years. No joke. The man who lived there (Uncle who died in late Dec. as stated in an older post) lived through THE DEPRESSION. The one that makes this one look like a pout? Yeah, that one.

He kept everything. His son who lives next door to him is almost as bad. Probably learned from Dad? Anyway, they started cleaning it up. All of those wonderful hidey holes for bugs, mice, and arachnoids being burned up and taken away, depending on what it was. I can't believe we didn't realize it sooner. Trying to get rid of the little suckers, but I hate killing them. If I had a cat, I wouldn't mind so much. Natural order of things and all that. You know? But they are making me and my children sick and nothing I do seems to make them want to leave.